Northern Australia

Warning: This exhibition and website contain some images of nudity and people in distressing circumstances. Visitors should also be aware that the exhibition and website include names and images of deceased people that may cause sadness or distress to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Artefacts collected by Basedow in northern Australia

During his travels in northern Australia, Basedow collected a diverse range of Aboriginal artefacts, including fishing nets, clubs, boomerangs and headbands.

He recorded information about where and when he had acquired each object on small cardboard tags. Unfortunately, most of these labels had been lost by the time the Australian Government purchased the collection in 1934.

By referring to their regional style, it is possible to identify which expedition the artefacts were collected on and consequently when they were acquired. Basedow's photographs can also be used to identify some of these artefacts, as he occasionally photographed an Aboriginal person with an item that he collected.